To wrap up breast cancer awareness month, I wanted to share with you some news (and answer the question of what my new license plates say)!

You know how I donate a portion of every wedding day creative fee to breast cancer research? And I call that my Pink Initiative program? Well, I'm in the process of establishing this as a non-profit so that other wedding professionals may participate as well! It's a very exciting, detailed process. I will keep you posted on the progress!

Many of you are lucky enough to know, have heard of or have worked with Kate Parker, of Kate Parker Weddings and Kate Parker Flowers in Somersworth, NH. Kate and her husband Ryan (who is also a dj, DJ Ryan Parker) are expecting their first child (beloved chihuahua Lola may beg to differ that she's their first).

Kate and Ryan will be coming to St. John for our wedding in April and so recently after our first planning meeting we took a few pregnancy photos of Kate. You wouldn't know Kate is just two weeks away from her due date. She looks amazing and has only gained something like 22 lbs. Wow!

They both expressed how much they don't like being photographed. So I suggested we do more activity-based "vignette" photographs. We started by baking some cookies. I won't show the step-by-step progression, but here are a few favorites. Note that Kate's business colors are blue and brown, as is her bakeware. :)

Without seeing their faces, you can see here that Kate is questioning Ryan's cookie-scooping strategy.Ryan sneaks some of the cookie dough batter.While waiting for the cookies to bake, Ryan is elbow-deep cleaning the microwave oven (he's very much a neat freak. I was very impressed!).This is one of my favorites of the afternoon... Ryan is on the floor checking on the cookies, while another "bun in the oven" stands by.Yum!Kate relaxes on the couch with Lola, while Ryan squeezes in a little pool.

We then head upstairs.Kate and Ryan get snuggly on the bed for some belly shots.And go even further to mimic their morning routine with Lola. Love this!I'll be back to photograph little Zachary in his nursery when he arrives, but check out this beautiful logo they designed for his sea-inspired nursery wall.

At Ryan's request, we also took a few semi-nudes of Kate (with strategically-draped fabric) that turned out beautifully. For privacy's sake, I won't be posting them on the blog but it is worth mentioning because I don't often take pregnancy photos. Kate and I had fun experimenting with it and I am so proud of her for being so brave!

I cannot wait to meet little Zachary! And for those blog readers curious about Kate Parker Weddings, I'll be sure to take a few photos on a workday at the office for a vendor tour soon.

It's never too early to start thinking about your holiday cards. This year I'm so excited to present a dozen custom options with patterns made exclusively for emilie inc. by our in-house designer extraordinaire Christina.

Each 5x7 card is printed on matte card stock, perfect for adding your hand-written note, and includes a white envelope. The designs below are customized with your favorite photo(s) as well as your names and the year. Cards are sold in sets of 25 for $60 for flat or $70 for folded designs.

Please place your order before December 5th to ensure delivery before Christmas.

Email me the design number you would like, the image number(s) from your Pictage gallery, the quantity of cards to order and your shipping address. I will email you an invoice which you may pay via PayPal or personal check.

At long last, we're ready to share our wedding plans with you! And so, to answer the questions everyone has been asking:

1. We are getting married on April 25, 2009, in St. John (USVI).2. Jules Bianchi will be photographing it.

:)

Since we cannot squeeze in our own wedding in Maine in the summer (because of our busy season photographing our clients' weddings), it made sense to travel somewhere else to say our I Do's during the off-season. It will be very simple and small- just our immediate families and close friends on a beach. Our reception will be a dinner party at a private villa (below).

Photo colleague Jules Bianchi will be documenting the events. And Kate Parker will be coordinating the day and decor. J and I are heading down to the island for a quick scouting trip next month to sort out some of the other details!

We have posted a little wedding website if you would like to follow as things come together: www.emilieandjason.com.

Many of my clients have used a similar template site and I think it's a fantastic way to bundle everything in one, easy place for guests to get all the information they need. We chose a Wedding Window template and found it fairly easy to use, minus navigating the overly-busy editing interface.

It's been such a fun learning process being on the other side of wedding planning and we appreciate each and every one of you who have walked this path before us! Your love and friendship is an inspiration!

If you haven't heard of Sea Bags yet, you soon will. Word is catching on globally about this innovative bag made from recycled sails whose company headquarters is right in Portland's Old Port. All are durable, water-resistant and washing-machine friendly. In the spirit of breast cancer awareness month and their fantastic Cure Bag, I spent the morning at their Custom House Wharf shop. Getting married on the coast and looking for a unique bridesmaid gift? I think I've found it!

50% of the profit of the special edition Cure Bag goes to the Maine Cancer Foundation. They have already sold more than 400 this year!The company was started in 1991 and it has been at the Custom House Wharf location (across from the Porthole and the Comedy Connection) for about a year.The sky blue storefront is nestled among old fishing offices on the active wharf.After the sails have been collected from around the world, the transformation process begins upstairs where they are cut to size.The number of bags per sail depends on the size of each bag. They come in small, medium and large.Once cut, they are stacked in the sewing room.Each bag is fitted with a design.And then the seamstresses stitch the edging and sew the rope handles into place.

Each bag is stamped for authenticity.

Each bag has rope handles that are hand spliced in the shop.And each comes with a tag, also made of used sail.

Once completed, the bags are separated by size and boxed for shipping.

The shop is a bustle of activity with the construction of the bags, sales, shipping and frequent meetings. Co-owner Hannah is on the right.Co-owner Beth is on the right.Sea Bags has received some amazing press, most recently distributing their Cure Bag to audience members at the Martha Stewart Show.The small bags are perfect for bridesmaids gifts and can be completely customizable with a design, name, color or number (order 5 or more, and receive 10% off!).

What a great morning! Thank you so much, Hannah and Beth, for inviting me into your shop. I loved it! And will be placing an order (or two) soon!